Hand-easel



(.No Mbdel.)

H. A. SAWYER,

HAND EASEL.

No. 313,626. Patented Mar. 10,1885.

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UNITED STATES TENT @rrrcn.

HARRIET A. SAWVYER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

HAND-EASEL.

.GPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,626, dated March 10, 1885.

(No model.)

To aZl whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRIET A. SAWYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Easels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar View representing a modification of the same.

In painting plaques or panels it is necessary to handle them while the artist is at Work, and as the edges of the same are usually covered with fresh paint it naturally results in the hands becoming badly soiled, and the work is thereby rendered disagreeable. It often happens, also, that while the Work is still in progress and the paint not yet dry the plaque will be accidentally dropped upon the floor and the painting be ruined by a thick coat of dust adhering thereto.

To prevent such accidents is the purpose of my invention, which consists in providing a clamp so constructed that it may be adjusted to hold plaques or panels of various sizes, either rectangular or circular, and having a handle by which it may be securely grasped and held in any position.

Referring to the drawings, A in Fig. 1 represents an extensible device,well known under the name of lazy-tongs. The pivots a,which secure the extremities of the lazy-tongs, also serve to loosely attach thereto the cross-heads B, in which are driven, perpendicularly to the plane of the instrument, several hooks, b, the upper points of which are turned toward the central pivot, O. The pivot G has a square head countersunk into the upper bar of the lazy-tongs, but is cylindrical where it passes through the under bar, and the lower end is provided with a screw-thread, as shown. The handle D is furnished with a screw-thread corresponding to that on the pivot, and the whole forms a device by which the two central bars of the lazy-tongs may be compressed and the cross-heads B be firmly fixed at any distance apart.

In the form shown in Fig. 2, E is a rectangular frame, one bar, e, of which is of greater thickness than the remainder of the frame and is mortised at e, as shown. The movable portion in this construction consists of a T- shaped piece, F, having a long leg, f, which is fitted to and slides in the mortise e. a The head of the movable piece and the bar 0 of the frame E are provided with hooks similar to those already described in Fig. 1.

In the under side of the bar 6, and entering the mortise e, is a hole, screw-threaded to correspond with a thread cut on the head. of the handle G. By loosening or tightening the handle G the movable piece F may be held in any position, and the implement extended or contracted, as desired. If more than two hooks b are used at each end of the instrument, they should be set on the circumference of a circle. If only two are used, this is un necessary,as they would hold either a circular or rectangular object.

' Instead of using hooks, a single piece might be used having a lip to lap over the edge of the object which it is desired to held.

In using this implement, which I call a handeasel, the plaque or panel is placed between the jaws, which are then tightly closed on it so that the hooks lap over its edge, and the handle being screwed up, the object is securely held, and the whole structure may be turned in any position desired by the artist.

I am of course aware that stationary easels have been furnished with clamps for holding pictures thereon,and that small stands adapted to be placed on a table and having clamps for holding plaques have been used; but I do not claim such devices.

My device differs from these from the fact that it is provided with a handle and is intended to be held in the hand and moved about at the convenience of the artist.

I am also aware that jewelers sometimes use what is termed a hand-vise for holding small tools; but this instrument is adjustable Within only a small space or range of movement, and is operated by a screw which is very slow in its action. For these reasons it is entirely un fitted for the purpose for which my invention is intended, and I do not wish to be considered as claiming such construction. 1

I therefore claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent"- 1. Asanarticle of manufaotnre,a clamp for I 3. The combination of the lazy-tongs A, the the use of artists, adapted to beinstantly adcross-heads B, provided with hooks or lips, justed and fastened so as to grasp the edges the central pivot, O, and handle D, operating 15 of plaques or panels of various sizes, and protogether in the manner described.

5 vided Withahandle by whichit may be grasped i In testimony whereof I affixiny signature in and held in any desired position, substantially presence of two Witnesses. as described.

2. A hand-easel adapted to be extended or HARRIET A. SAl/VYER.

contracted, as described, and provided with a 10 handle, which also serves as a means forolamping the movable parts in any position, substantially as set forth.

Vitnesses:

WM. HAYES, GEORGE KNOWLTON. 

